COYA: Consequences of Your Actions

COYA is an Indigenous-led philosophy and social impact framework that teaches that we are not only products of our circumstances but also the consequences of our actions.

Founded by Jacylin (Jace) Poirier Lacerte, COYA offers a model for individuals, families, and organizations to live, lead, and create with awareness of how each action contributes to intergenerational impact.

The Meaning of COYA

COYA stands for Consequences of Your Actions — a reminder that every decision ripples outward, shaping both present and future realities.

It is a way of being that integrates Indigenous teachings, ceremony, and contemporary social impact strategy to build a world where actions align with values, and legacy is lived daily.

The Four COYA Agreements

  1. Contribute Our Gifts
    Honour the unique strengths and medicines we each bring to the world.

  2. Own Our Actions
    Take full accountability for the impact of our choices.

  3. Yearn for Growth
    Approach learning and change with humility, curiosity, and courage.

  4. Act on Legacy
    Make decisions that honour ancestors and strengthen future generations.

These four agreements form the foundation of Rooted Action Analysis™, COYA’s Indigenous-informed framework for social impact measurement, strategic planning, and organizational transformation.

Applications of COYA

  • Family Stewardship & Birthwork — Recognizing birth as ceremony and guiding families through rites of passage into parenthood.

  • Organizational Strategy — Replacing deficit-based models like SWOT with Rooted Action Analysis™ to inspire action from strength and responsibility.

  • Social Impact Evaluation — Embedding Indigenous worldviews into research, data, and policy to honour relational accountability.

Cultural Foundations

COYA is grounded in Indigenous understandings of time as spiral — emphasizing that growth, healing, and legacy are continuous. It draws on teachings of reciprocity, belonging, and interdependence with all living systems.

Purpose and Legacy

The purpose of COYA is to inspire people to become impactful ancestors — to live consciously and act intentionally so that the consequences of their actions become medicine for generations to come.

Through ceremony, community, and creativity, COYA reminds us that we are the legacy we are building.

Learn More

Visit coya.ca to explore COYA programs, workshops, and tools that bring this philosophy to life in families, communities, and organizations across Turtle Island and beyond.

About the Founder

Jacylin (Jace) Poirier Lacerte is a Métis entrepreneur, birthworker, and social impact strategist based on Lekwungen Territory (Victoria, BC). She is the Founder and CEO of COYA Productions Inc., Vice-President of the Victoria Native Friendship Centre, and creator of the Family Stewards model of ceremony-based family support.

Drawing from her Métis and French-Canadian heritage, Jace weaves together Indigenous teachings, social innovation, and evaluation practice to help people and organizations align their actions with values, ceremony, and long-term impact.

Her work through COYA has supported Indigenous innovators, community leaders, and families across Canada to strengthen connection, accountability, and collective well-being.

Learn more about Jace at jaceactually.ca